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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

 

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

 

Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson

Dolores Gorczyca

Daniel O’Mullan

Diomedes Tsitouras

  

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

 

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A regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., in Trenton, New Jersey.

 

   PRESENT: Allison Chris Myers, Chairperson; Members Delores Gorczyca, Daniel O’Mullan and Diomedes Tsitouras; Levi Klinger-Christiansen, Deputy Attorney General; Nicholas F. Angiulo, Director, Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs; Annemarie Ragos, Commission Secretary.  All individuals listed participated via teleconference.

   

   In accordance with L.1975, c.231, the Secretary to the Civil Service Commission opened the meeting with the following statement:

 

    Notice of this meeting was filed with the Secretary of State and sent to the Trentonian, Trenton Times, Courier-Post and Star Ledger on November 23, 2022, and posted at the Civil Service Commission, 3 Station Plaza, Trenton, New Jersey.

 

    All actions were by unanimous vote unless otherwise specified.

 

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MINUTES

 

Submitted for adoption are the Civil Service Commission minutes of its meeting of October 11, 2023.

 

ACTION:      The Civil Service Commission adopted the minutes of its meeting of October 11, 2023.

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Yes)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Abstain)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

 

WITHDRAWAL OF APPEALS

 

The following appeals were withdrawn and removed from the hearing calendar:

 

Adrian Howell, Senior Correctional Police Officer, East Jersey State Prison, Department of Corrections, removal.

 

Tracy Lee, Communications Operator, South Woods State Prison, Department of Corrections, suspension.

 

Jacqueline Mastroeni, Emergency Medical Technician, Gloucester County, Department of Emergency Response, suspension.

 

Carine McNair, Juvenile Detention Officer, Essex County, Department of Citizen Services, removal.

 

Darring Villegas, Sr., Senior Juvenile Detention Officer, Bergen County, Department of Human Services, list bypass.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission noted the withdrawal of appeal without prejudice.

 

SECTION A – HEARING MATTERS

 

A-1    SETTLEMENTS

 

Kenneth Bynum, et al. (Consolidated)

Mercer County Corrections Center

Removals

 

Elizabeth Mauger

Woodbine Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

Removal

Damaris Murray

Woodbine Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

Removal

 

Christopher Pelzer

Woodbine Developmental Center

Department of Human Services

Removal

 

Andre Ross

Hudson County

Department of Health and Human Services

Suspension

 

Antonio Santos

Mercer County Corrections Center

Suspension

 

Regina Waters

Union County

Department of Human Services

Removal

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission acknowledged the settlements.

 

A-2    JUDY BELLAMY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1588

 

Judy Bellamy, County Correctional Police Officer, Mercer County Corrections Center, removal, effective January 14, 2023, on charges or insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.      

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal. 

 

ACTION:     As there was a tie vote on the motion to modify the removal to a 60 calendar day suspension, the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge was deemed adopted. 

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (No)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Yes)

                   Daniel W. O’Mullan                (No)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

 

A-3    CURTIS DIKE – CSC DOCKET NOS. 2023-88

 

Curtis Dike, Institutional Attendant, Union County, Department of Human Services, removal, effective June 22, 2023, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency, or failure to perform duties, inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.

 

A-4    ESTEBAN RODRIGUEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2022-1705

 

Esteban Rodriguez, Police Officer, Weehawken, Police Department, removal, effective January 12, 2022, on charges of incompetency, inefficiency, or failure to perform duties, inability to perform duties, conduct unbecoming a public employee and other sufficient cause.

 

Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge – Uphold the removal.    

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission affirmed the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.

 

SECTION B – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

B-1    S.C. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1547

 

S.C., represented by Brian P. Matousek, Esq., appeals his rejection as a Police Officer candidate by Montville and its request to remove his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (M0096D) on the basis of psychological unfitness to perform effectively the duties of the position.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-2    ALONZO HOBBS – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-77

 

Alonzo Hobbs appeals the decision to remove his name from the Judiciary Clerk 2 (S1462D), Judiciary, Vicinage 5, Essex eligible list on the basis of an unsatisfactory background report.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

  

B-3    MICHAEL WOLF – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2806

 

Michael Wolf, represented by Robert K. Chewning, Esq., appeals the removal of his name from the eligible list for Police Officer (M0072D), Lakewood on the basis of falsification of the preemployment application.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-4    MAKHOSINI DHLAMINI – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1460

 

Makhosini Dhlamini appeals the bypass of his name on the promotional list for County Correctional Police Sergeant (PC2926W), Hudson County.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-5    RAYMOND DONNERSTAG – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2385

 

Raymond Donnerstag, represented by Robert K. Chewning, Esq., appeals the bypass of his name on the Police Sergeant (PM4554C), Hackensack eligible list.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-6    JASON MARTINEZ – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1150

 

Jason Martinez appeals the bypass of his name on the Police Officer (S9999A), Lakewood eligible list.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-7    CONSTANCE ZAPPELLA – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-724

 

Constance Zappella appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services, which found that she lacked the required permanent status in a title to which the examination was open for Fire Officer 4 (PM3382E), Jersey City.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-8    DEBRA COMPTON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-570

 

Debra Compton appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services that the promotional examination for Assistant County Engineer (PC3033E), Monmouth County was not a promotion.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-9    TIMOTHY COUGHLIN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2014

 

Timothy Coughlin appeals his score on the promotional examination for Deputy Fire Chief (PM5153C), Bayonne.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-10   ELWOOD FAUNCE, III – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1953

 

Elwood Faunce, III appeals his score on the promotional examination for Deputy Fire Chief (PM5152C), Atlantic City.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-11   PHILLIP JOHNSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1841

 

Phillip Johnson appeals his score on the promotional examination for Deputy Fire Chief (PM5172C), West Orange.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted in part.

 

B-12   ROBERT SEEBURGER – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1917

 

Robert Seeburger, Jr., appeals his score on the promotional examination for Deputy Fire Chief (PM5153C), Bayonne.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

  

B-13   RICHARD SMITH – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-1890

 

Richard Smith appeals his score on the promotional examination for Deputy Fire Chief (PM5172C), West Orange.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

 

B-14   S.P. – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-146

 

S.P., a Technical Support Specialist 2 with the Office of Information Technology (OIT), represented by Patricia A. Villanueva, Esq., appeals the determination of an OIT Equal Employment Officer, which found that the appellant was not subjected to disability discrimination under the New Jersey State Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be granted in part.

 

B-15   POLICE CHIEF, PATERSON – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2167

 

Paterson, represented by Aymen A. Aboushi, Esq., requests reconsideration of the final administrative determination in In the Matter of Police Chief, Paterson (CSC, decided February 22, 2023).

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.

 

B-16   ZACHARY SCHAGRIN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-683

 

Zachary Schagrin requests reconsideration of In the Matter of Zachary Schagrin (Chair/CEO, decided August 24, 2023) which upheld the determination of the Division of Agency Services that the proper classification of his position with the Department of Environmental Protection is Geologist 2, Environmental Protection.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be denied.

 

B-17   CARMEN DEL PALAZZO – CSC DOCKET NO. 2023-2356

 

Carmen Del Palazzo, represented by Patricia A. Barasch, Esq., appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services to grant a waiver of examination for Deputy Police Chief (PM2282E), Voorhees.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this appeal be denied.

VOTE:         Allison Chris Myers                (Recuse)

                   Dolores Gorczyca                   (Yes)

                   Daniel O’Mullan                     (Yes)

                   Diomedes Tsitouras               (Yes)

 

B-18   MATTHEW GRAY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-758

 

The Union County Police Department requests to transfer Police Officer Matthew Gray from the Winfield Police Department, a non-Civil Service jurisdiction, to the title of Police Officer, UCPD.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted.

 

B-19   JESSE O’BRIEN – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-523

 

Jesse O’Brien, a Police Officer with Jersey City, represented by Jared M. Wichnovitz, Esq., requests enforcement of In the Matter of Jesse O’Brien (CSC, May 24, 2023).

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission directed that this request be granted in part.

                  

B-20   ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK (C1093D), PASSAIC COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-259

 

Passaic County Board of Social Services requests permission not to make an appointment from the February 27, 2023, certification for Administrative Clerk (C1093D), Passaic County Board of Social Services.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.

 

B-21   ADVOCATE VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM (C0527B), MERCER COUNTY– CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-482

 

Mercer County requests permission not to make an appointment from the October 13, 2021, certification for Advocate Victim Witness Program (C0527B), Mercer County.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and assessed selection costs in the amount of $2,048.

 

B-22   FAMILY SERVICE WORKER (C1697D), BERGEN COUNTY – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-483

 

Passaic County Board of Social Services requests permission not to make an appointment from the February 27, 2023, certification for Administrative Clerk (C1093D), Passaic County Board of Social Services.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.

 

B-23   SENIOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (PM5630D), BRICK – CSC DOCKET NO. 2024-250

 

Brick requests permission not to make an appointment from the April 24, 2023, certification for Senior Emergency Medical Technician (PM5630D), Brick.

 

ACTION:     The Civil Service Commission granted the appointment waiver and deferred selection costs.

  

PUBLIC PORTION

 

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